Farmers 'losing thousands under outdated TB scheme' - TD
Clare Fine Gael TD Joe Cooney is urging for an increase to compensation ceilings for cattle removed as TB reactors.
Deputy Cooney said that farmers are "being left thousands of euro out of pocket because valuation caps have failed to keep pace with rising cattle prices".
Speaking in the Dáil today (Thursday, July 9), Deputy Cooney told Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, that the current scheme is "no longer fit for purpose".
"The market value caps are totally out of step with the real world and farmers are being left thousands of euro out of pocket," the Clare TD said.
"The minister has publicly stated that he is reviewing these caps, but a review without an end date provides farmers with no commitment."
In response, Minister Martin Heydon said he was "acutely aware of the emotional and financial impacts bovine TB has on farmers, their families and rural Ireland" and had secured an additional €85 million for the programme in Budget 2026, bringing the total allocation to €157 million.
He said the increased funding would support the new bovine TB Action Plan and noted that just over 85% of the 11,476 animals valued under the On-Farm Market Valuation Scheme up to the end of May this year had fallen below the existing compensation ceilings.
'Unfairly treated'
Deputy Cooney welcomed the progress being made in reducing disease levels, but said farmers affected by TB outbreaks were still being "unfairly treated".
"Reactor numbers are down significantly year-on-year and that is welcome," the TD said.
"However, this does absolutely nothing for farmers who have animals that are reactors.
"The farmers I represent are already carrying a heavy burden.
"Asking them to accept compensation based on valuations that are years out of date is neither fair nor sustainable.
"Farmers need something concrete they can take to the bank, not an endless review."
Minister Heydon said improvements had already been made to a number of TB support schemes and that the issues raised by Deputy Cooney on compensation levels would form part of upcoming budget negotiations.
In his closing remarks, Deputy Cooney urged the minister to act without further delay.
"Every month this drags on, more and more reactors are being removed at values set three years ago, while cattle prices continue to climb. Fairness delayed is fairness denied," the TD said.
"These hardworking farming families deserve compensation that reflects the true value of the animals they are losing."
Expenditure on TB
Government expenditure on TB hit €48.5 million to the end of June this year, according to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).
Latest TB statistics show this represented a 7% decrease compared to the corresponding figure for Q2 2025.
As at June 28, 2026, on a rolling 12-month basis, herd incidence stood at 5.32%, DAFM figures on TB show.
This is down from a herd incidence figure of 6.4% in the previous year.
There were 34,886 reactors up to the end of Q2 this year, down from 43,290 up to the end of June 2025.
The number of herds restricted was 5,300, down from 6,449 in the previous corresponding period.
